Victoria: A 22-year-old Sikh man has claimed he was subjected to a racially charged assault outside a gym in Victoria, Australia, in an incident that has sparked fresh concern within the Indian community.
Harmanpreet Singh, a nurse residing in Corio, said the confrontation began late Tuesday night while he was working out at a local fitness centre. According to Singh, three men inside the facility began directing racial taunts at him before the situation escalated outside the premises.
Speaking to Australian media outlet 9News, Singh recounted how one of the men approached him aggressively. “He came very close to my face and then suddenly lunged forward, hitting his head against my nose,” he said. The impact left him bleeding immediately.
Footage broadcast by the network reportedly captured the alleged attackers shouting abuse, including telling Singh to “go back to where you came from” and referring to him using derogatory language.
Singh said the trio fled the scene in a sedan shortly after the incident. He was taken to hospital for treatment, where doctors informed him that he may require specialist care and possibly surgery due to the extent of his injuries.
Describing the emotional toll of the episode, Singh said he remains shaken. “You don’t expect something like that when you’re just going about your routine. It’s deeply hurtful,” he said, adding that while he has faced racist remarks before, this incident was particularly traumatic.
The alleged assault comes against the backdrop of other reported attacks targeting members of the Indian diaspora in Australia. In July last year, a 23-year-old Indian student, Amanpreet Singh, was hospitalised after an alleged assault in Adelaide that authorities were investigating as racially motivated.
Community leaders have repeatedly called for stronger action to address hate-related incidents and to ensure the safety of multicultural communities across Australia. Police are understood to be reviewing the case, though no official statement on arrests had been released at the time of writing.
